HOW THEY DODGE by Agnes R. Lucas

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 28, 1878

HOW THEY DODGE.

By Agnes R. Lucas

Yes, those foxes of the desert do have holes; and what is noticeable is the way they sometimes get into them. It seems to me that they have these holes arranged alphabetically, something like this. Here is a long line of holes marked A, any one of which they will dodge into if attacked on the authenticity or correctness of the Scriptures. Then follows another line marked B, to be used in defense of that bliss people are supposed to enter at death. After that there is a great variety of holes marked C, with which to dodge the commandments; with as many more marked D, for an extra dodge from that despised fourth commandment.

Not long ago, Bro. B. asked a Mrs. B. who was at his house, who were meant by the children of men mentioned in Ps. 14: 2. Mrs. B., thinking some blow was meant for her, began to dodge, and to fight the law of God. She talked at random for a while, and then said, If your position is correct, “where did Cain get his wife?” A big dodge she had made, but evidently she had stumbled into the wrong hole. She was trying to get into one of the D’s, but had fallen into an A.

A similar case was that of Mr. W., who is quite a successful teacher. Some papers had been given him to read, that treated quite largely on the Sabbath question. I asked him how he liked them. His answer was that he had not read them, also that he knew scarcely anything about the people or their doctrines. He asked what they believed concerning creation. I answered, They believe the Bible statement of it. “Then,” said he, “how was it that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still?” I answered, I could not see that that had any bearing on the subject. His next dodge was, “Where did Adam’s sons get their wives?” I replied that Adam had daughters as well as sons. “Yes,” said he, “but the Bible says they took them wives of the land of Nod.” My answer was that I had never read any such passage. He then thought to dodge it all; and related what some infidel had said, rang the bell for school and thus closed, the chapter.

There is but one way of solving the problem why people who are quite intelligent on every other subject should manifest such ignorance of the Bible. Let 2 Peter 3:5 answer.

AGNES R. LUCAS.